In response to two requests from the United Nations, Humanists International explored the ways in which minority rights, under the 1992 Declaration on Minorities, attach to the non-religious, and the activities of Humanists International and its members to safeguard and advance those rights.
One of these requests came from the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues for his upcoming report on the contribution of the UN to the full realization of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The mandate is currently held by Professor Nicolas Levrat of Switzerland. In 2020, his predecessor, Mr. Fernand de Varennes, explicitly recognized the extension of his office’s mandate to the non-religious, although the issue has not been raised since. The second request came from the Secretary-General for his 2025 General Minorities Report.
Both submissions by Humanists International raised the legal arguments for the inclusion of the non-religious under the 1992 Declaration, including the aforementioned comments of the previous Special Rapporteur. Also discussed was the Recommendations of the Forum on Minority Issues in 2013, among other sources.
The submission to the Special Rapporteur then spoke about the non-legal rationale for UN engagement on the right as it pertains to humanists and atheists, discussing cases of persecution as well as national laws which infringe on the rights of humanists.
Meanwhile, the submission to the Secretary-General explored the ways that Humanists International, as well as its members, have worked to safeguard and advance the rights afforded under the 1992 Declaration, often in the face of the risk of grave persecution.
Both full reports will be published later this year.
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